Description: From the back of the book:
From the moment a strange Icelandic parchment is discovered in an old booksellers shop to the fantastic descent into the dark hollow heart of the earth itself. A journey to the Center of the Earth is fiction at its very best – a classic of science-adventure that remains as wonderfully entertaining today as when it was first published more than 120 years ago. Recognized as one of Jules Vernes finest novels, it contains that unique combination of believable science and wonderment that made this brilliant Frenchman the father of modern science fiction. A riveting odyssey into the unknown, it depicits a subterranean world full of danger and beauty. And for three men who dare to venture into this fearsome underworld, there is a fast-fading chance of ever returning to the surface alive. But it is what they discover at the Earths mysterious core that makes this a story still unequalled for high-tension excitement and great reading pleasure.

Review: Jules Verne takes readers on one wild adventure after another that keeps you turning pages and holding on tight! The Signet Classic version I read changed or as they put it anglicized the characters names. Professor Hardwigg deciphers a cryptogram and sets out on an adventure to find the center of the Earth. He takes his nephew, Harry (who is a grown man, engaged to be married) and an Icelandic guide named Hans (who was my favorite character). They explore empty lava caves and follow clues left by the one who wrote the cryptogram. The story is mostly about the journey to the center of the Earth, the shortages they face of food, water, light and faith, the difficulty in the finding their way down, and back up again. There is also some description of the terrors they face when discovering fierce and prehistoric animals. The book is full of intense action and adventure, but nothing inappropriate for young readers.

Rating: 5

Positive: Harry and his Uncle were very close and looked after each other, they had each others backs so to say. Though the journey was important, it was not more important than they were to each other. This book goes to show that an adventure does not have to include bad language and sex to be interesting and exciting.

Spiritual Elements: The professor acknowledges a Creator of the Earth and an Architect of the Universe. Professor Hardwigg also observed a day of worship and rest.

Violence: No violence – just intense, exciting action and suspense.

Language: None

Sexual Content: None

Other: Dont rely on the recent movie to tell you the story in this book. The movie, while a fun, family-friendly movie – is quite different from the book. The movie is about the son and brother of Harry (aka Alex) who in the book, went into the Center of the Earth with his Uncle/Professor Hardwigg (aka Lindenbrock).

Recommendation: I have never been a reader who is dedicated to reading classics. I tend to prefer more contemporary books. That being said – I thoroughly enjoyed Journey to the Center of the Earth. It was fast paced and full of adventure, it kept me wanting to find out what happened next on this exciting journey. However, I will admit I had to skim some parts of the story when the author got way too detailed and the science part of the fiction got too deep. Dont let that stop you though – this is a journey youll be glad you took!

Description: From book jacket: Where do our young ladies find answers to their questions about themselves? Are the movies or music videos correct? Does today’s music hold the answers? NO! Our Young girls are being bombarded with the wrong images. The world is giving them incorrect answers to the questions they have about life. It is time to change where our young ladies get the answers for the purpose of their lives. That is where Fearfully and Wonderfully Made can help. When our young ladies realize that God wants to be a vital part in their lives and that he has the answers, then the stronghold the enemy has on them can be broken. They need answers to the question of who they can become. They need answers to the questions of what the Bible says about sex, abortion and so much more. They need answers that the world is not capable of giving. They need the answers that only God’s Word can give.

Review: Remember your teen years? Its a time of growth, not only physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. Its the time when you began to make your own decisions separate from your parents. It can be such a difficult time, but with Gods wisdom, young ladies can make wise, Biblically-based decisions. Because even at that age, the decisions they make can affect them as adults. Jewel D. Williams uses the struggles she faced and overcame with Gods help to encourage young women in their walks with Christ. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made is a much-needed guide to Gods word on the hard decisions young women will face in an easy-to-read study-guide format.

Rating: 3 for mature content dealing with sexuality and mention of child abuse and a rape (see below)

Positive:Fearfully and Wonderfully Made encourages young ladies to meditate on Gods word and teaches them Gods principles on topics like peer pressure, dating and drinking. Williams encourages girls to set Christ-centered goals for themselves and search for Gods purpose in their lives. She also encourages young women to look to their parents or other Christian adults as mentors. Williams also uses the results of several teenage studies to help young ladies identify with the choices other teens are making as well.

Spiritual Elements: The entire book is Bible-based and uses many quotes from Scripture to guide young women in decision making.

Violence: Williams details her own difficult story as she faced abuse from her parents and even a rape in college (which is not discussed in depth.) With Gods help, she was able to overcome her difficult circumstances and choose to live a Christ-centered life.

Language: none

Sexual Content: Gods plan for waiting for sex until marriage is spelled out. The book also talks about how to deal with pressure to have sex before marriage and how to avoid sexual temptation.

Other: Teen drug and alcohol use are discussed as well as the consequences of use and what the Bible says about such behavior.

The truths about abortion are covered as well as the importance of human life.

Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to any teenage girl struggling with the tough decisions on the road to adulthood. The book is set up in such a way that it is ideal for individual and group study. Although the book discusses mature topics, it is a much needed resource for girls as young as thirteen or fourteen. The topics are covered in an appropriate manner with Gods word at the center of it all. I would encourage parents to study along with their daughters or at least have some follow-up discussions with them about the topics discussed in the book.

Title: Chataine’s GuardianAuthor: Robin HardyPrimary Audience/age group: Young AdultGenre: Romance, Christian Fiction# Of pages: 269Publisher: Nav PressYear of Release: 2004Part of a Series? Yes, 1 of 3Rating: 2 (View Scale)Recommended? Maybe but definitely not for younger teensDescription: Spoiled and manipulative, ten-year old Chataine Deidre is accustomed to getting her way until she is appointed a guardian as a result of her life being threatened. Roman, a 22-year old soldier, is guided not only by his loyalty to his country but by his love for God. He has assumed the role of Deidres protector and is ordered to risk his life for her until the day she is wed. But when the time of her betrothal arrives, will she choose her husband out of devotion to her country or out of the love of her heart?Review: Gods grace is woven throughout this passionate tale of love between Roman, a follower of the Way, and Deidre, the young woman he serves. Romans feelings for Deidre grow from that of a guardian appointed over a child to that of the love between a man and a woman. Their budding adoration is the pivotal plot element and makes for a very romantic story that at times deals with more mature, intimate situations thus making it more suitable for an older audience. Please see the recommendation below.

Rating: 2 for some detail of sexual situations other than kissing including sex and for violencePositive: The book strongly warrants life lessons through Roman as he stands up for his faith. He shares it openly and wisely with anyone who will listen. Deidre on the other hand grows from a selfish, manipulative child into a woman of value as she learns hard lessons about how her actions may cause serious consequences for others. Their love, particularly Romans, mirrors the love of Christ as he often has to sacrifice his will and even his life for that of Deidres.

Spiritual Elements: Roman is a Christian and speaks often of his love of God the Father and the Son. Roman has many characteristics that shadow Jesus, that of self-control, honesty, loyalty, and love. He even presents the gospel.

Some sorcery takes place when Deidre and Roman visit another kingdom. They enter whats called the Sorcerers Rooms where Roman is under attack spiritually but prevails in Jesus name.

Violence: As part of Romans assignment as guardian of Deidre, he must except extreme punishment if she comes to harm. Roman is flogged 20 times for not being able to prevent Deidre from injuring her hand when she disobeys him and enters the fence of a wild horse. Deidres father is rather cruel and intolerant.

The story is set during a cruel time where people are beheaded, hanged and flogged. There are several kidnapping attempts on Deidres life, and a couple of her kidnappers are killed during her rescue. Although none of the accounts are gory, they are still in a time of war where many soldiers face death. A few murders take place as well as a suicide.

Language: A couple of forms of the word d*** are used on several occasions and one use of the word h***. Roman is talked about as being illegitimate but a courser word is implied.

Sexual Content: There are several kisses along the way and several mentions of improper sexual behavior but not necessarily with the main characters though. Brothels are commonplace, and Romans mother is described as a harlot. A servant girl invites Roman to her room, but he refuses because he knows she doesnt have the purest motives.

One scene in particular goes a bit further with Roman giving Deidre swimming lessons as ordered by her father. They are in proper swimming attire, but she notices his body under his wet clothing which causes embarrassment for both of them.

Spoiler Warnings: Deidres mother becomes pregnant with Deidre by another man before she is wed to the Surchatain. Roman and Deidre do wed after she turns 18 and wedding night activities are assumed but not described.

Other: Several small characters along the way are seen drunk.

A magician visits the palace and hypnotizes some of the guests except Roman because he serves a higher power.

Recommendation: Although the book does show strong moral values and teaches many a Bible-based lesson, it is foremost a romance between Deidre and Roman and lingers heavily on their passionate feelings toward each other. That is my greatest concern. The book deals with mature content and although God-centered it is definitely not appropriate for younger teens. I would encourage you as a parent to consider what affect this type of book could have on an impressionable young females mind of any age. The book stirs the mind and the body greatly and although these feelings are not wrong, they can make it harder to resist lustful thinking which in turn can lead to making wrong decisions concerning sexual behavior in relationships.

Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires reads Song of Songs 3:5b in the NIV of the Bible or in other words dont awaken sexual desire until the time is right. Heavy romance novels such as this one may not spell out sexual situations in detail but they do arouse the senses and bring about intense emotions. I would encourage you to talk with your daughter about physical relationships and the emotions they bring up if she does read this series.

Description: Using the metaphor of screenwriting, My Life, Unscripted explores relationships in every teenage girl’s life-with herself, her friends and enemies, her parents, guys, and with God.

Real-life scripts, screenwriting terms, and timely topics, make this an interesting read for teen girls as they delve into their own inner struggles and outward relationships. They’ll also learn the importance of “scripting” their own responses BEFORE challenging life-situations arise so they are able to think about, pray about, and consider how to face these situations before the scene begins. By contrasting real-life with TV or movies, teens will understand they don’t have to get caught up in the drama.

Review: My Life Unscripted is what I would call a 20 week devotional for teens ages 14 to 18. Each chapter has a script that has a situation that is either actually from Tricias own life or one that she has made up but is very common to teen girls. Then, there is discussion on the script. Next comes the Intermission where the script/situation is related to a similar situation in the Bible. There are usually questions that the girls are to ponder and write down their thoughts. Also in each chapter is a section called My Script which has comments from teens on the subject/issue discussed in the chapter. Woven in every chapter are bible verses, strategies for evaluating situations and the way we react. I found the scripts very relevant and interesting I was looking forward to the script in each chapter. I like how the script was tied to a similar situation in the Bible showing that the Bible is as relevant today as it was hundreds or thousands of years ago. The goal seems to be to get young women to THINK about their choices before they make them. To THINK about God when making daily decisions. To think about possible consequences if they make their choices without bringing God into the decision making process.

Rating: 5 This is an excellent book for teen girls ages 14 and up. I dont think it would be appropriate for those 12 or under the scripts/situations are too mature.

Positive: The way the book is laid out makes it entertaining to read. The chapters go by quickly and you look forward to the next script. It really gets you to think about how youve been making our choices and learning how to make better choices choices based on what God would have us to do.

Spiritual Elements: The book and lessons are based on lessons/stories and verses from the Bible. The book is not preachy but rather from the view of someone who has been there and can relate to todays teens. All the while, it shows that if you rely on God more, you are more likely to make choices that will benefit rather than hurt you.

Violence: No violence, just mature situations.

Language: No bad language.

Sexual Content: No sexual situations, just talk about pre-marital sex and pregnancy.

Recommendation: I highly recommend My Life Unscripted for teen girls. It would be a great devotion to use at home or with a youth group of girls. This book was such a creative way to deal with self-image, popularity, true beauty, hate, friendship, and so much more!

Description: From Back Carrie Hill hates Indians. Indians killed her parents. Indians left her wounded and alone. Indians ruined her life.Now fifteen year old Carrie is on her own in the wild pioneer country.With nowhere else to go , she signs on to care for the growing family of Beaver Dick Leigh, an English trapper. To her dismay, Carrie discovers thatDicks wife, Jenny, is a Shoshoni Indian. An Indian! Carries parents would kick the dirt from their graves if they knew she was living with a native and a mountain man with no school or church to attend.But as her wounds heal under Jennys gentle care, Carrie learns to respect and love this kind and sensitive woman. Shoshoni appreciate the beauty of the towering Tetons and the feeling the oneness with nature. She learns that sometimes, even when it seems impossible, enemies can become friends.

Review/Recommendation: Though it was a short book, I fully enjoyed flipping the pages. Kristiana Gregory re-created the wondrous and dangerous world of the pioneer days. Carrie tells the story through her own words and the beginning of each chapter includes a few sentences from the real Beaver Dicks journal.

Positive: Struggling with loss, Carrie learns to live and respect Jenny and her family, all while dodging bears, disease, and most of all, find love.

Rating: 3, mild language and sexual reference.

Spiritual Elements: The Leighs read the Bible.

Violence: People have to put-down animals and hunt, but nothing in detail.

Description: One cruel night, Meggies father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever. This is INKHEART a timeless tale about books, about imagination, about life. Dare to read it aloud.

Review: When I was about 5 years old I thought the shadows cars made as they passed by my dark walls at night were friendly ghosts telling me stories. At 10, I believed my dreams were an alternate reality they took me to the place I lived at night, and I returned here to Earth every morning. Inkheart captures that same kind of imagination reading out loud by special, gifted people can pull people and things out of stories and send nearby people and items into a story. How often we wish a well crafted story would never end if only we could jump in for a bit! But, many of the characters of Inkheart are not the sort Id want to visit and live with. They are scary and mean. I really liked the relationship between Meggie and her father, Mo. They were close and really looked out for each other.

Rating:3 for a few instances of violence/meanness and a few curse words.

Positive: The main character Meggie a 12 yr. old girl does things she never believed she would be able to do. She is brave and courageous, I think shes a good example of a young person digging deep and being tough.

Spiritual Elements:To me it appeared Capricorn symbolized the Devil very evil and ruthless.

Violence:There are some incidents of violence and meanness – Capricorn and his men are not nice and do things such as hang roosters by the neck in the houses of neighbors. More violence is eluded to than is actually described.

Language:A few instances of he** and da**.

Sexual Content:None

Recommendation: I thoroughly enjoyed Inkheart and look forward to seeing the movie with my 13 year old son, who also liked the book. However, I would change the suggested reader age to 12 and up. I feel like Amazons reading age suggestion is a bit young, considering the intense action and evilness, meanness and violence of some of the characters. I have read that the second book, Inkspell is even better than this one.

Description:From book jacket: Mix six teenaged girls and ’60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two… and you’ve got The Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson’s new chick lit series for young adults!

Review: In this, the first book in the series, DJ is forced to live with her grandmother when her mother dies. They do not see eye-to-eye on things since DJ would rather wear her basketball uniform than haute couture as her grandmother wishes. As the girls begin to arrive for the school year, each one tries to discover exactly how they fit into their new home.

Rating: 5, although there is a situation dealing with alcohol and some situations of affection (please read recommendation below)

Positive: Each girl comes from different circumstances. One girl is a Christian and tries to be a good influence. The others try to figure her out. Though the girls don’t always agree, they do try to work their way through their problems. This book does a good job of showing that situations that arise in teens’ lives are not always what they seem and are not always cut and dried.

Spiritual Elements: Mixed Bags is not overly religious. It is a fresh, modern take on each individual girl’s walk through her teen life. The professing Christian, Rhiannon, is misunderstood in the household for her forgiving nature.

Violence: none, though there are instances of anger

Language: none

Sexual Content: Dating is a topic in this book, so attraction and one instance of heavy kissing occurs. There are accusations tossed around of some girls being “easy.”

Other: While it would be more comfortable for the alcohol and dating issues to have been left out, that would not have been realistic. They are woven in as part of the storyline and not overwhelming or out of place.

Recommendation: I enjoyed this book that is clearly intended for young adults and not children. I do believe it handles a few weighty issues quite well. It would provide an open door as a conversation starter in helping young people decide how they would handle certain circumstances if they were faced with them. I was glad that this book has a sequel.

Description:From book jacket: He was a nameless orphan marked for death for an unknown crime. Discovering his name only intensified the mystery. Then he met Bear, who helped Crispin learn the secret of his full identity. In Bear, Crispin found a new father and a new world, and the two set off to live as free men. But they don’t get far as the past catches up to them.

Review: This is a nice follow-up to the first book, but it is a bit darker. It takes up exactly where the first book left off, which is nice, and the adventure continues. Crispin and Bear still live in bleak and depressing conditions, and encounter some who are even worse off than they are. They do discover kindness where it is least expected only to then face horror. I was anxious to read this second book in the series, but was a bit disappointed with the pure sadness of it.

Rating: 3 for some violence

Positive: Crispin and Bear do find kindness and their love as father/son is further cemented with more love added in. Crispin is able to discover that the world is bigger than he ever imagined.

Spiritual Elements: The book is heavily religious. Bear is constantly talking about and praying to saints. Being fiction, it is based on a number of historical facts which are listed in the back of the book and are interesting. It is there that it is explained that at the end of the fourteenth century, when this account takes place, that Christianity is the established religion, but all kinds of pagan beliefs and practices continued and take place in this book.

Violence: The plot revolves around adventure, and there certainly seems to be more violence in this book, I think. There is an arrow wound, a birth gone bad, and a character violently murdered, and that is not even the end of the violence in this book.

Language: none

Sexual Content: none

Other: While the adventuresome spirit of the book can be fun, it is still a darker book and not for the faint of heart or depressed.

Recommendation: Even though the story was appealing and the adventure intriguing, I didnt really like the book based on the constant praying to saints, bleak circumstances, lack of hope, and violence. I realize this is just fiction, but I do think a child too young could get attached to the characters and become upset at the outcome. I would not recommend it to children under 12 at all due to the violence portrayed throughout and the degree of vile details

Title: The House at the End of the Tracks
Author: Marc Richard Elliott
Primary Audience/age group: 10 and up
Genre: Short Story
# Of pages: 46
Year of Release: 2007
Part of a Series? No
Rating: 4 (View Scale)

Description: Miss Phoebe Finn was born and raised in the house at the end of the tracks. She lived a quiet, isolated life for years until Micah appeared outside her door. With no possessions and no last name, Micah was the least of which to leave an impression on anyone. But God saw fit to touch the life of Miss Phoebe that day with an unexpected friend.

Review: The House at the End of the Tracks is a heart-warming tale of an elderly woman who sees Gods hand touch her life through the homeless man she finds outside her door. The story is full of God-inspired treasures that will allow you to see His true character of love and how He still works today even in those who feel their time of purpose has passed. I love the setting of the story and how it is told with Southern dialect. It gives the story even more character and warmth. God-centered lessons abound throughout, and one of the most profound messages I found in the book was that God has given everyone a purpose, if only we would acknowledge it.

Rating: 4 for one mention of the word h*** and for mild violence
Positive: Micah has lived a hard life, losing loved ones, then losing his job and home. He learns to appreciate God for even the smallest things. Even in the worst of situations, Micah has a heart full of thankfulness.

Spiritual Elements: The whole story is interlaced with Gods wisdom.

Violence: Old man Booth lives up the road from Miss Phoebe. Rumor has it that he is so harsh that even his kids tried to throw him on the tracks.

Language: H*** is used once in reference to the place

Sexual Content: none

Other: Micahs sister, whom he is in search of, is dealing with drug addiction. One of Miss Phoebes sisters was killed in a drunk driving accident.

Recommendation: The story is a message of hope and purpose even for those who are considered the least among us. I feel the book would be most appropriate for ages ten and up because it does deal with a couple of more mature situations with brief mentions of drug abuse and drunk driving.

Description: The budding romance between Bella and Edward is anything but typical. Its downright scary. Bella Swan is distinctively average herself until she finds the love of her life Edward in the gloomy little town of Forks. She discovers that he and his family are vampires, but even that doesnt stop her from falling in love.

Review: Stephenie Meyer brings a new twist to the traditional vampire stories of death and mayhem. She weaves a tale of forbidden love between Edward and Bella that draws you in with utter abandon. The passion between them is so mesmerizing that you forget about the world around you. And thats the main problem. It leads your mind away – ever so subtlety – down a road you want to take but knowingly will regret later.Positive: Compared to most other vampire books, this one is much less gory. The Cullen family has chosen to rebel against their inborn desire to kill humans and hunt overpopulated animals instead. Carlisle, Edwards adoptive father, has even chosen to become a doctor in order to save lives instead of take them. They are truly a family that lives by their convictions.

Spiritual Elements: Carlisles father was a Protestant pastor in the early 1600s. Carlisle was following in his fathers footsteps until he was transformed into a vampire. His deeply-rooted religious beliefs caused him to despise what he had become, but he eventually came to the realization that he could control his blood lust, to a degree. He chose instead to hunt overpopulated animals and start a coven of vampires who would choose to follow his beliefs as well.

The vampires are compared to gods in regards to their remarkable beauty and immortal nature.

Violence: As a young vampire, Emmett, Edwards brother gives into temptation and kills two unsuspecting women, which he later regrets. Before becoming a vampire, Esme, Edwards adoptive mother, runs off a cliff and kills herself after her child dies. Carlisle, Edwards adoptive father, brings her back to life by turning her into a vampire.

Bella is almost attacked by four men who have malice on their minds. She is rescued by Edward.

James, a visiting vampire, is a tracker, which means he hunts (tracks) humans with his senses in order to kill them. He has is sites set on Bella. Spoiler Warning: He traps her by telling her he will kill her mother. Then he attacks her, throwing her into a mirrored wall and breaking her leg. The only way to stop him is for the Cullen family to kill him. It is implied that they rip him to shreds and burn the body in order to succeed. The scene is somewhat bloody.

Language: H*** and different forms of d*** are mentioned a few times. At one point, Bella internally curs[es] Jessica to the fiery parts of Hades for telling another student a secret.

Sexual Content: To be perfectly honest, there are no inappropriate love scenes or risqué behavior to mention. But, the book is very intense, passionate, and sensual in regards to the love between Bella and Edward. They are star-crossed lovers, who have a huge obstacle between them. Edward is a vampire, and although hes very much in love with Bella, hes always tempted by her blood. He kisses her seductively several times. Edward tells Bella that they will never be able to be totally intimate because of his fear that he may lose control and kill her.

After Bella meets Edward, she begins to dream of him every night. He eventually admits that he watches her through her window every night. He is so afraid of losing her, he wants to protect her at every moment. He even spends the night in her bedroom, holding her until she falls asleep. Her father is unaware or else he would not approve.

The Cullen family consists of a mother and father, three adopted sons and two adopted daughters. They live in this manner as not to draw attention to themselves. The rumor going around school is that the children live as couples, which is true to an extent. Emmett and Rosalie are married, but their façade is that they act as brother and sister. Alice and Jasper are a couple as well, but there is no further mention of their relationship.

Other: Bellas parents are divorced and her mother has remarried. In order to gain information about the Cullen family, Bella flirts with a younger boy. Bella is so nervous about seeing Edward, she takes cold medicine to fall asleep. There is a crude joke about heroine. Edward can hear others thoughts, and Alice can see the future to a degree. Bella is rude and disrespectful to a concerned adult.

Rating: 2 for intense sensuality/passion

Recommendation: Even though I greatly enjoyed the book, I think that is a bit too intense and that Bella and Edward’s relationship could quickly and easily become very physical. It however does not result in premarital sex although their relationship is extremely passionate. Their behavior towards each other seems to be quite obsessive as well. The electricity between Edward and Bella was very mesmerizing. The book drew me in in such a way that my mind took their relationship way beyond what was actually written. This is a subject that hits very close to home for me. I love to read a good love story, but I would prefer a more God-centered tale that teaches about Gods perfect plan of intimacy within the context of marriage. I want to teach my daughter to have a pure heart and mind. Although the book is extremely well written and engaging, I am not able to recommend it to teens under 18.